Raptors’ Kleiza could be out a year after surgery

The bad news is stretching further than a 13-game losing streak for the Toronto Raptors.

Swingman Linas Kleiza, who signed a four-year, US$18.8-million contract over the summer, will be out between nine months and a year after having surgery on his right knee.

The surgery came in two parts. Kleiza had arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscal tear, and the more serious microfracture surgery to repair a chondral defect in the same knee.

Kleiza, 26, has missed nine of the Raptors’ last 10 games because of the damaged knee. He last played on Jan.21, scoring four points in a 40-point loss to Orlando.

Dr. Richard Steadman performed the surgery in Vail, Colo.

“That’s bad,” centre Andrea Bargnani said Thursday afternoon. “Personally, I just feel bad because he’s a friend of mine. Out nine to [12] months is terrible. It’s really bad.”

It is the end of a disappointing season for Kleiza, his first as a Raptor. Bouncing back and forth from the starting unit to the bench, he averaged 11.2 points per game on 44% shooting. He made 30% of his shots from three-point range and was a career-worst 63% from the free-throw line.

Plenty was expected from Kleiza after he was named to the all-tournament team at the world championship in Turkey. But he was unable to claim the starting small forward spot with a firm grip, sharing it with Sonny Weems. Kleiza started in 23 of his 39 appearances.

The Raptors received a modicum of good news Thursday. Leandro Barbosa, who has missed the Raptors’ last 11 games because of a sore hamstring, participated in practice and is expected to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

With the injuries to Barbosa and Kleiza — and, previously, to Weems — the Raptors are precariously thin at the two swingman positions.